LITTLE ROCK (08-12)  A contractor for the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) plans to switch two lanes of traffic onto 1.7 miles of the new alignment of Highway 70 west of Hot Springs , according to AHTD officials.

     Traffic will be moved during the first part of the week of August 15 onto the new alignment at Allison St reet on the west end of the project.  It will then follow the new alignment behind the Lake Hamilton School until it intersects with Highway 227 ( Sunshine Road ) at the new Wolf Dr ive intersection.  Highway 70 will then follow Sunshine Road eastward to its intersection with existing Highway 70.  Access to the existing Highway 70 will be provided on each end with new intersections.

     Upon completion, Highway 70 will be four eleven-foot traffic lanes with a twelve-foot center turn lane from just west of the Lake H a m i l t o n School s to Highway 192 ( Marion Anderson Road ).  This project is expected to be complete in mid 2007.

     Parents, teachers and students traveling to Lake H a m i l t o n School s should allow extra time as construction continues.  Motorists are ur ged to exercise caution when approaching and traveling through work zones.